Fernando Fischmann, the founder of multi-national water innovation company Crystal Lagoons, has been named innovator of the year, winning the coveted Gold Stevie Award for his work in addressing the global problem of water scarcity.

Fernando Fischmann

Topping off this achievement, he also won the Gold Stevie for Innovation of the Year for his water desalination technology which uses no energy.

Further adding to Crystal Lagoon’s environmental credentials, the company has been awarded a Green Apple Award for its sustainable cooling technology by the international Green Organisation. Mr Fischmann will receive both Gold Stevie Awards, considered the Oscars of the Business World, in a gala ceremony to be held in Rome in October. The Green Apple Award ceremony will take place in the House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London, in November.

The prestigious Stevie awards have been won previously by the world’s most important and influential business leaders and innovators, including Apple’s Steve Jobs, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Coca-Cola’s Kent Muhtar and Ford Motor Company’s Alan Mulally. Companies that have been awarded for innovation include IBM, Disney, AT&T and Coca-Cola. This year’s awards attracted more than 3,800 nominations from 60 countries.

The jury for the International Business Awards is composed of more than 200 opinion leaders, executives and academics from around the world, including representatives from Nike, DHL, HSBC, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, American Express and others. In naming Mr Fischmann as Innovator of the year, one judge commented: “Fernando Fischmann is the embodiment of an innovator! What is even more remarkable is that his innovation has a positive impact on the environment”.

Others heaped more praise on the innovator: “Fischmann sees a challenge, sees an opportunity and looks for a solution or creates new technology to accomplish his goal. An innovator!” “It is a wonderful innovation and initiative to provide solutions to humanity’s critical need for survival. A well anticipated innovation and a noble contribution to the wellbeing of the world”.

The International Business Awards gala ceremony will take place on 21st October in the Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in Rome. On the occasion, Mr Fischmann will receive two Stevie® Award trophies, golden statues created by R.S. Owens, who also takes credit for the Oscars statuette.

Mr Fischmann founded Crystal Lagoons seven years ago and has since established 15 offices around the world with 400 projects in different stages of development in 60 countries, including Australia. His innovative technology has seen Crystal Lagoons become the world’s top amenity and Mr Fischmann recognised as one of the world’s leading innovators. The scientist’s achievements have seen him receive more than 20 awards, including the USA’s Best New Business award, Keys to Miami from the Beacon Council, Innovation Award from Florida’s Governor, two Guinness World Records, as well as being the only executive to have received awards for Best Entrepreneur, Best Innovator and Best Businessman.

Mr Fischmann has developed and patented technologies that have improved the lifestyles of people around the world, with a portfolio of over 1,000 patents in 160 countries globally. Today, his scientific efforts are focused on the development of industrial applications that address global problems such as energy and water scarcity and environmental degradation.